Cindy Rehm and Performance Workshop #1

As part of our Womynhouse exhibit, we will be doing a night of performance art on November 2nd.  Our friend and mentor Cindy Rehm from Craftswomanhouse came to LMU on 10.22.11 to do a performance art workshop with the ladies of Womynhouse.

In the workshop we discussed performance, performance artists, and practiced performance ourselves.  We learned that performance art does not necessarily have to be based on theatrical displays but that what you do on a daily basis, such as rituals and processes, can be transformed into performance art.  It is a type of art that can shed light onto our customs as well as serve as a social experiment or an interactive art. Because humans have body knowledge, performance art can be a powerful tool to integrate a visceral feeling into a gallery space. Performance art has the ability to bridge the gap between the audience and the space as well as the audience and the performer. It can also create gaps and/or intense reactions. Because it's happening in real time, there's no manipulation or finessing of the act. It is created using a specific moment in time that cannot be captured or held onto, and during performance the artist cannot start over. As a result, performance art has a certain authenticity that makes it special.

In order to get us started as performance artists, Cindy gave us a sheet of paper with fluxus ideas. For example, one quote said "Scream, scream, scream, scream!" We were left to interpret each quote ourselves, choose a quote and perform it to our liking. To help us get into our performances, we chose from an array of props. It was a great exercise, and next week we will be performing in a second workshop by interacting unexpectedly with a prop that is generally "gender-specific".

Below are photos of our workshop. Thank you Cindy. And thank you Amanda C for providing me with some notes of the experience.

Choosing our Props

Reading Through our Prompt Fluxus Terms

Arielle's Fluxus Exercise

Arielle's Performance Continued

A Discussion of Gender Roles

Opening Weekend

The weekend of October 20th was indeed momentous for the women of our show. Everything we have been working toward day and night, came to a climax this past weekend. The opening, on Thursday night, went extremely well and our turn out was better than we could have imagined, filling the space from 6:15pm and on. Friends, family, teachers, peers, mentors, and future friends showed their support in great numbers. Our 5for5 event Friday night was inspiring and made way for an intimate discussion on matters of importance today, led by LMU faculty and students.

We would like to thank everyone who came to the opening reception and 5for5, for their much appreciated support. The success of Womynhouse would not have been possible without you! The evening was not only a fun celebration, but a remarkable and memorable experience for all of the women in our show.

Though the opening came and went in the blink of an eye, there are still exciting events yet to take place. We are grateful to have the show up until November 11th, and we plan to utilize the space as much as we can during this time through evenings dedicated to the spoken word, performance, and celebration. We encourage you to visit and revisit our house while the show is up and to spread the word to women and men alike.

One of the great hopes that has been born through Womynhouse, is that our cause will be continued beyond the show, and that we will get more artists and people who want to create, to join us in sharing stories and expressions.

We are all very excited to share with you...drumroll please...these photos of the opening.

Thank you!

What A Weekend! Installation.

We had a busy busy weekend at the gallery. I will let the pictures do most of the talking. Here's a taste of our show in its beginning stages of installation. Remember these photos when you come to the gallery for our opening and the following events! The weekend was great fun. Thursday is approaching quickly, and the excitement is flowing through us and the space. We're trying to savor every moment.

Installing the Walls

Lisa adding the final touches to her painting

Erin and Kenzie installing their interactive piece

Messy!

Amanda's Looking Like a Boss

Strange mist after a crazy hot day!

Working Ladies

Amanda C's Hard Work

Dinner Break! Thanks Amanda D.

Elise and Lisa Installing

The Girls <3

Group Recordings

The women of our show have been meeting in small groups conducted by Kenzie and Erin for the purpose of recording: personal stories, moments, thoughts, ideas, and feelings that we've experienced as females. Selected recordings from these group discussions will be shared in an interactive installation for you to hear.

The discussions were interesting for us as a group, because we learned things about one another that we otherwise would never have known. As the show draws nearer, we become closer to one another, and the excitement is building up. We can't wait to share our views with you and with the world.